Lifting device for bar stock rack



April 3, 1962 F. SKUBIC LIFTING DEVICE FOR BAR STOCK RACK Filed March 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

BY 774%] 141,4444! A, W

United States Patent 3,028,186 LIFTING DEVICE FOR BAR STOCK RACK Leroy F. Skubic, Beverly Shores, Ind., assignor to The Paltier Corporation, Michigan City, Ind., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 797,128 1 Claim. (Cl. 29467) One object of the present invention is to provide an improved lifting device for use with bar and strip stock racks and the like, more particularly, it is an object to provide a lifting device of the foregoing type for transferring these racks from one position to another and for stacking the racks in vertical tiered relation one on top of the other without disturbing or causing a shift in the contents of the racks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting device of the above character which is simple and economical to construct and maintain, and which can be positively engaged with the rack to lift and carry the same in a balanced horizontal position regardless of the distribution of the material supported within the rack.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rack lifting device of the foregoing character which is easy and simple to handle and which can be rapidly engaged with or disengaged from a rack. A more specific object is to provide an improved rack lifting device of the above type which cannot be accidentally disengaged from a rack being lifted and which cannot be partially engaged with a rack so that the lifting device is foolproof and prevents an accidental dropping or spilling of the contents of the rack. A

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a rack containing strip sheet materials and a lifting device illustrative of the present invention engaged with the rack.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rack and lifting device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the rack and lifting device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a grab plate securely mounted on the rack for engagement with the lifting device,

FIG. 5 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the adjustable engagement of the cable hoist with the lifting device.

While an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been shown in the drawing and will be described below in considerable detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, equivalents, and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

An illustrative bar and strip stock rack for supporting long and relatively narrow materials is indicated at 10, while an illustrative lifting device embodying the present invention, for use in lifting the rack and tiering it in vertical tiered position such as shown in FIG. 3, is indicated generally at 11. The lifting device 11 is provided with a shackle means 12 engaged by a hook 14 of a suitable cable hoist 15 of a type conventionally employed for lifting heavy objects.

Supported within the rack shown in the drawing are a plurality of strips of sheet metal indicated generally at 16. These strips are shown in an off-center position within the rack so that the center of gravity of the loaded rack is shifted to a point spaced from the geometric center of "ice gravity of the rack itself. For supporting the strip stock, the rack is formed with -a generally rectangular base frame defined by a pair of spaced longitudinally extending angle iron members 18 supported on four spaced, transversely extending channel members 19. The spaced parallel base angle iron members 18 are preferably welded to the transverse channel members 19 and the ends of the latter extend slightly beyond the edges of the longitudinal angle irons 18.

For confining strip stock 16 within the rack, there is provided a plurality of vertical side or post members 20 extending upwardly from the rectangular base frame. These side members 20 may also be channel-shaped in cross section and are rigidly secured by any suitablemethod such as welding, to the portions of the base channel members 19 extending beyond the edges of the base angle irons 18. In the rack shown in the drawing, there are provided four such vertical posts 20 on each side of the rectangular base frame. In the rack shown, there are provided four corner posts and four uniformly spaced intermediate posts. Secured between the upper ends of the vertical posts 20 are a pair of angle iron members 21 extending generally parallel to the members 18 forming the sides of the rectangular base frame. The upper longitudinal members 21 are secured to the upper ends of the vertical posts 20 so as to provide a fiat upper horizontal surface 22 (FIG. 4) suitably disposed for supporting a second vertically tiered rack, as shown in FIG. 3.

For guiding the vertically tiered rack into longitudinal alinement onto the top of a lower rack, the latter is provided on its upper surface 22 defined by the members 2*]. with appropriate guide projections 24 adjacent each corner of the rack. These projections 24 are generally of an inverted V-shaped configuration and are spaced from the end of the members 21 so as to engage the inner edge of the endmost base channels 19 of the upper tiered rack. As the second rack is tiered onto the first, the sloping surfaces of the projections cam the tiered rack into 1ongitudinal alinement with the lower supporting rack.

Transverse guiding of the tiered rack into alinement with the supporting rack is accomplished by a plurality of outwardly inclined guide members or flanges 25 secured adjacent each upper corner of the rack. These guide members 25 flare slightly outwardly to provide an inwardly sloping cam surface so that as a rack is tiered onto a lowered supporting rack, the longitudinally extending base frame members 18 on the tiered rack engage the flanges 25 and are cammed into transverse alinement on the supporting rack.

For lifting a rack and moving it to a new position or tiering it vertically on another, the lifting device 11 embodying the present invention comprises a rigid H-shaped frame formed by a longitudinally extending central I- beam shaped body member 30 having a transversely extending cross member 31, 32 secured at each end, these latter members 31, 3-2 also being shown in the form of an I-beam. The members making up the lifting device 11 are welded together to form a rigid structural unit with the center beam 30 being secured intermediate the ends of the cross beams 31, 32.

For engaging a rack, there is secured to the lower surface of each of the transverse beams 31, 32, a bar or rod 33, 34, respectively, which is of a length slightly longer than the length of the beam so that it extends beyond the ends thereof. The ends of the rods 33, 34 engage with appropriate grab plates 35, 36 extending upwardly from the sides of the rack. Each grab plate, as shown in FIG. 4, is securely attached to one of the intermediate vertical posts 20 of the rack. Accordingly, the longitudinal spacing between the intermediate posts of the rack determines the length of the main structural member 30 of the lift. Each grab plate 35, 36 is formed with a downwardly directed hook portion 38 defining a throat for receiving the end of the rods 33, 34, respectively. Additionally, the grab plates flare upwardly and outwardly so that they too serve to locate a tiered rack on a lower supporting rack in the same manner as the corner flanges 25.

The lift is alined with the rack as it is engaged by the provision on each end of the transverse rods 33, 34 of outwardly flaring members 39. These flaring members or guide plates 39 may be cone-shaped as shown in the drawings, or otherwise tapered, or of any suitable flange-like construction. As one feature of the inven tion it will be appreciated that the guide plates 39 serve to aline and center the lifting device 11 on the rack when the latter is to be engaged and lifted. When the lifting device 11 is placed on the upper frame members 21 of the rack with the rods 34 resting on the upper surface 22 of the members 21, the lift can then be shifted longitudinally of the rack. During this shifting movement the flaring members 39 prevent the lifting device from dropping to one side off of the rack.

With the lift construction defined above, it will be further appreciated that each one of the grab plates will be engaged by the respective ends of the transverse rods when the lifting device 1 1 is hooked withthe rack and will guide the lift into alinement with the grab plates. This is accomplished by the rigid character of the rack and also by the outwardly flaring guide plates 39 on the ends of the lift rods 33, 34 which insure the correct engagement of the rods with the hooks 38.

For purposes of adjusting the point at which a lifting force is applied to the lift device with respect to variations in the center of gravity of each rack as a result of off-center loads contained therein, an adjustable shackle means is provided between the cable hoist and the beam 30 for shifting the point of application of force to the lifting device.

One illustrative adjustable shackle means suitable for this purpose is shown in the drawings and comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates 40 to which the lower ends of a U-shaped member 45 are secured. The plates are joined adjacent their bottom edges by a pair of spaced rods 42 and adjacent their top edges by a similar pair of spaced rods 43. On the underside of the lift beam 30 there is provided a plurality of downwardly extending teethlike members 44 between which the rods 42 are engaged. With this construction, the shackle means 12 can be positively positioned along the beam 30 by a selective engagement of the rods 42 between corresponding pairs of teeth 44, as shown in detail in FIG. 5. A stable engagement between the lifting device and the chain hoist is provided by the spaced rods 42 which engage between separate teeth 44 and support the beam at two spaced points. The teeth are desirably of a depth suflicient to prevent the shackle 12 from slipping longitudinally relative to the beam 30- so that a rack, when supported by the lifting device, may be transported to its desired location without danger of its slipping or tipping. The U-shaped member 45 is securely attached to the plates 40 and extends upwardly for engagement by the hook 14 of the hoist. It is a simple matter to adjust the point of application of force to the beam by sliding the shackle longitudinally thereof before the application of a lifting force thereto.

The lifting device construction, being rigid and adjustable to accommodate for eccentric loads within the rack, affords an extremely versatile and yet foolproof lifting device which may be easily attached to and disengaged from a rack. The lifting force, being applied at two spaced points to the lift beam 30, and the beam 30 being positively engaged at its four corners with the rack, results in an extremely stable lifting device construction eminently suitable for supporting heavy off-center loaded bar stock racks.

While chains have heretofore been employed in lifts for use with racks containing off-center loads, it will be appreciated that a lifting device embodying the present invention, being a rigid structural member, affords a foolproof lifting action which is not susceptible to accidental disengagement at one point on the rack or to tipping with the resultant loss of contents of the rack.

I claim as my invention:

A lifting device for use with a hoist to carry bar and strip stock racks having four rectangularly spaced upwardly extending grab plates thereon, said grab plates defining hooks directed toward one end of the rack, said lifting device comprising a rigid elongated body member, 21 pair of transverse end members secured in spaced parallel relation to respective ends of said body memher, a rod secured to each of said transverse end members extending beyond the ends thereof for engaging the hooked grab plates on the rack upon longitudinal movement of said lifting device with respect to the rack, outwardly flaring tapered cone-like plates fixed on the outer ends of said rods and spaced from the ends of said transverse end members for guiding the engagement of said rods with the hooked grab plates, a shackle member arranged on said body member for engagement with the hoist and means on said body member releasably engaging said shackle member so that 'said shackle can be positioned on said body member in accordance with the center of gravity of the rack to be lifted, said cone-like plates guiding said lifting device during longitudinal movement thereof into engagement with the rack to prevent said lifting device from sliding off of the rack and to guide said lifting device into engagement with the grab plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 732,884 Normandin July 7, 1903 1,415,090 Fitch May 9, 1922 1,717,005 Cartwright June 11, 1929 2,047,140 Pildes July 7, 1936 2,250,273 Priester July 22, 19 1 2,370,528 Fontaine Feb. 27, 1945 2,412,488 Austin Dec. 10, 1946 2,721,756 Markussen Oct. 25, 1955 2,849,253 Bopp Aug. 26, 1958 2,905,501 Jakubowski Sept. 22, 1959 2,925,300 Kelley Feb. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,113,322 France Dec. 5, 1955 

